Wichita eagle., 1887-08-23
COMMISSIONS, SNUBBED.
City Council Kick on What is
Termed Unlawful and Ex-
travagrant Bills.
The Investigation Of the River Bank
Ouestton-ArrapQem for d,
Reading Ordinances to
Railroads-New e. ~
Hose House

9 Healy, English, Stone, Brown, Buckridge
Q Derby, johnson and Kenyon. There were
more members present than at any meeting
for some weeks and thus the idea prevailed
5 before the mace fell that more ordinances
would be passed. Not that more ordinances
{ would be introduced, but that more would
be passed, as one or two votes in the negative
would not give an ordinance a black eye.
There were few in the lobby, and the council
! went to work fearing little from the presence
of the dear people or their more dear con-
stituents.
The finance committee had made out
report for June, but it was not signed. Mr..
Derby of public Improvement committee,
stated that grading on West Central avenue
would be done as soon as possible. Mr..
KENYON called the attention Of the street
commissioner to the condition of the Missouri
Pacific at the crossing of Chicago avenue.
He stated that the crossing had faded into
somethirg that was not crossing.
Mr.. Johnson of the gas committee recon-
mended electric light on Topeka and Elm,
Topeka and First, Emporia and Morris and
!
cepted and lights ordered. He asked further
time on an important petition. Judge
Campbell stated that on a very dark or
cloudy night the electric lights on the west
side failed to do their duty. Some were not
provided with globes.
The partition between the police judges
room and the city marshals room was order
ed out. The judges court room of late has
teen much crowded and made more room
necessary.
Mr.. johnson stated that Santa Fe switch
stand was in the center Of the crossing of
Fifth avenue and Waterman street. The
switch stand was ordered out. 1t at present
allows crossing about seven feet wide.
The street commissioner was ordered to
notify the railroads Of the ordinances passed
concerning planking crossing and putting in
gates as specified in ordinances 400 and 461.
Mr.. Healy stated that if he had been present
he would opposed the gate ordinance, as he
was thoroughly convinced that: they were a
nuisance.
Mr.. johnson stated that he had been in
formed that the Rapid Transit company had
been running rather fast. He moved, with
Buckridge a second, that the company
be compelled to put gong or bell
on engine and give an alarm before reach |
ing any crossing. The ordinance provides
for noisless motor and some thought that
the late order for an alarm would be in con- |
fict With the first ordinance.
W. G. Mckee was accepted as a member |
of hose company No. and the resignation |
pany was accepted. Mr. Healy stated that |
hose company No. 2 had good horses, good |
apparatus and good firemen, but no place to |
keep them. The fire department in the city, |
he said, stood better on Wall street than any |
department west of the Missouri river. He |
had lately talked with headquarters on the |
subject and got the information. Company |
No. 2 had nothing but an old shed, too mar
row and not deep enough. Thinks the city
ought to put up good building there.
Mr.. Derby thought that if the city |
built another building it ought to
be provided with tower
Mr.. Walden, fire marshal, said that a
not as necessaIy as it would be after awhile,
but it would in time be necessary and he
thought it ought to be built with the build
ing.
Mr.. Healy moved that the Ere committee
be instructed to prepare plans and specifica-
items for a building. The motion passed
unanimously.
Mr.. Johnson introduced. the subject of the
city putting in street fountains. He moved
that the water works committee be instructed
to purchase. six water fountains and make
water. The, motion pre-
vailed
Mr.. Daily, as..chairman of the special COM
mittee appointed to define the banks Of the
river on the st''side. from Central to Douglas
and on the west side from Douglas to
Maple street, reported work done and city
engineer producediprofle showing the banks
as defined. There was considerable discus
sion concerning the report. Some thought
that the line gave the river a too narrow
channel while others thought it too wide,
Mr.. Healy stated that once in olden times
when the channelS was nine hundred feet
widei and the water seven feet deep. He ar
gued 'that.if the channel was narrowed one
half the water would be made fourteen feet
deep. The.channel given.by the company is
near five hundred feet 1t seems that Mr..
Healy In his calculation failed to consider that
the deeper the water in a channel the more
rapid the flow which would not make the
fourteen feet deep, when four hundred and
fifty feet wide.
After considerable discussionlMr Healy
moved that the committee again
investigate Ithe.fsubject swith power to act.
The motion carried with Buckridce
voting in.the..negative.
City engineer Mulvey reported
on the Thirteenth street bridge
across. thes Little river. The bridge would be
near two hundred feet long and a sixteen
foot driveway. The old one cannot be re-
paired, butta new one would have to Rebuilt.
1t is,in avery bad condition and a new bridge
WOULD cost near 81 400. 1t was understood
that the county would give $500 for new
bridge
Mr.. Buckridge stated that he had talked
with Mr.. Alley, chairman of county commits
sioners, on the subject and he stated that the
county would pay half the expenses for
new bridge if it did not exceed $500.
The city engineer was instructed to submit i
a detailed estimate Of cost Of bridge at the ,
l..